Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Le Balze 1997

Novaia (Italy)

Corvina (50%), Corvinone (20%), Rondinella (30%)
Red Wine	Score: ✧✧✧✧✭

Interesting example of Amarone. The wine shows a beautiful intense ruby red color and nuances of garnet red, little transparency. The nose denotes a clean and strong personality and richness of clean and elegant aromas. There can be perceived clean and intense aromas of black cherry jam, blackberry jam, peach jam, plum jam, ripe fruit, dried rose and dried violet followed by aromas of pink pepper, vanilla, cocoa, candies and nutmeg. The mouth has a pretty alcoholic attack, however well balanced by tannins as well as the full body. Good correspondence to the nose with intense and agreeable flavors of jams. The finish is persistent with pleasing and long hints of black cherry jam, plum jam and blackberry jam. A very well made wine which will give great emotions with a further aging in bottle. This Amarone is aged in barrique for 27 months followed by a bottle aging of 7 months.
Alcohol: 15.5%
Game, Braised meat, Stewed meat, Roasted meat, Hard cheese
Suggested glass	18 °C (64 °F)
(Full Bodied and Very Mature Red Wines)
Issue 6, March 2003